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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during the 2023 NBA rookie photo shoot at UNLV on July 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA thus far. Currently, the Heat sit tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. That’s despite the Terry Rozier FBI saga and Bam Adebayo suffering an injury.
A big reason for that is the play of Jamie Jaquez Jr. The Heat forward has been one of the most improved players in the NBA from a year ago. Jaquez Jr. has turned into one of the most important players that the Heat have in their lineup.
Despite his improvement, two prominent NBA analysts believe that he should be disqualified from winning the Most Improved Player Award at the end of the season because of how bad he was a year ago.
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 12: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during the 2023 NBA rookie photo shoot at UNLV on July 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Prominent NBA Analysts Don’t Believe Miami Heat Forward Should Win MIP
While speaking on the Bill Simmons Podcast, both Bill Simmons and Tim Legler don’t believe Jaquez Jr. should be under consideration to win the award.
“Can you win Most Improved if you sucked a year ago because you were super disappointing and then you became good again?” Simmons asked. “Does that qualify?”
Legler then came in with his thoughts on the matter.
“Here’s what I think. If you reached a level, and for him, it was just a rookie year, but still, he played at a certain level, and then you take a big dip, and then you reclaim that, plus a little bit more of what you were, then no, I think you should probably be disqualified from that award.”
Simmons then says that Jaquez should be disqualified.
“I would say he’s DQ’d. This is the guy we thought he was going to be last year, and he was super disappointing. So yeah, you don’t qualify. Sorry, Jaime Jaquez.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 12: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat poses for a portrait during the 2023 NBA rookie photo shoot at UNLV on July 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Heat Forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. is One of Miami’s Best Players
So far this season, Jaquez Jr. has proven to be one of the Heat’s best players. Jaquez Jr. is averaging 17 points, over seven rebounds, and over five assists per game. His net rating is an astounding 18 points better than what it was as a rookie.
Jaquez Jr. has turned into a key player for the Heat. With Adebayo nursing an injury, the Heat need Jaquez Jr. to be one of the offensive drivers for the team. He certainly should be in the running for Most Improved Player if he keeps this level of play up for the entirety of the season.
Miami is trying to turn into a contender to make the playoffs and actually make some noise after being swept by the Cavaliers in embarrassing fashion a year ago.